Foldable card table



July 19, 1938. wfF. PETERS FOLDABLECARD TABLE ovi inl Filed July 27, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l a M \um 4| 4 J m a, 1 w f Inven [or WFPGZL-S July 19, 1938. w. ER I 2,124,007

' FOLDABLE'CARD TABLE .Original Filed July 27, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 19, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application July 27,

1935, Serial No. 33,571

Renewed June 7, 1938 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a novel and improved foldable card table of the portable domestic type now generally used in the home and appropriate places of public amusement, and it has more particular reference to a structure characterized by a distinctive top and a proper coinciding collapsible leg support.

The improved table construction is characterized by a new and improved duplex leg frame support having expeditiously usable and satisfactorily performing adjusting and retention means for the leg frames.

Specifically, novelty is predicated upon the adoption and use of U-shaped pivotally mounted leg frames positioned on opposite sides of the under surface at the top wherein said frames are provided with self-adapting stay units slidably cooperable with latch equipped means carried by the under side of the top, said features being particularly designed and coordinated to insure efficient and dependable results.

.Though of a collateral nature, the improved construction is further individualized by the embodiment therein of a unique charted top of a predetermined diagrammatic nature whose features contribute in providing as an added feature, a gameboard susceptible of practical usage for playing checkers, cribbage and similar games of chance and skill.

Then too, the embodiment adopted possesses in addition to ornamentation and features of design, conveniently located corner openings to accommodate temporarily usable service accessories such as ash trays, drinking glasses and similar utensils so frequently needed by the participants and guests.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of a folding card table with the legs folded showing to advantage the particular novelty hereinafter claimed.

Figure 2 is a substantially central sectional view through the table with the leg frames down in supporting positions.

Figure 3 is a central longitudinal section of a fragmentary type taken on the plane of the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of one of the leg frame stay members.

Figure 5 is a detail sectional and elevational View of one of the spring pressed detents or latches.

The table top, which is preferably of wood or some composition light-weight material is indicated by the numeral 8. It is of conventional proportions and preferably rectangular in top plan View. Surrounding themarginal edge or perimeter is a correspondingly shaped rim made up of the edging strips 9. These are of duplicate wood construction and are suitably secured in place to be flush with the playing surface and to project below the underside to provide the desired apron-like effect shown in Figure 2. By preference the upper edge portions of these strips 9 are rabbeted or grooved to form ledges to accommodate the edge portions of the top or board 8. Moreover, as shown in Figure 1 the abutting ends as indicated at it are of desired curvature so as to form a portion II of the circular corner opening of hole l2. The remainder of this hole is formed by a correspondingly curved edge portion l3 of the complemental corner blocks l4 suitably fastened to the underside of the table. These corner blocks are provided with bearing holes I5 to accommodate the trunnions or journals on the ends of the cylindrical bar member I6 of the leg frames. The legs are differentiated by the numerals I! and are arranged in pairs and are foldable in superimposed relationship when not in use as shown in Figure 2 and obviously the legs are proportioned so as to permit them to swing within the area of the rim surrounding the marginal portion of the top. The configuration of the legs may be of any appropriate design to provide for symmetry and balance in appearance, as well as in utility. In the arrangement shown in Figure 2 the leg frames are arranged in opposed parallelism and are swingably mounted between the respective or complemental sets of corner blocks l4. Thus, when the table is held up with its underside facing the floor the legs have a tend ency to swing out and down by gravity to open or unfolded positions.

I call attention at this time to the rail l8 fastened centrally to the underside of the top. This is located centrally between and parallel to the legs ll of the respective frame. Then as shown in Figures 2 and 3 it is provided with longitudinal superposed parallel grooves or guideways I9 and 20. The inner ends of the grooves overlap and are formed with depending lateral end notches 2| which function as keeper seats. These keeper seats are adapted to accommodate the straightacross bight portions 22 of the substantially V- shaped stay units 23. The diverging arm portions 24 terminate in outbent pintles 25 pivotally connected with the complemental legs. It is evident therefore, that the portions 22 of the units 23 ride in and out in the guideways or grooves l9 and 20 and when the legs are spread apart, the portions 22 drop down into the keeper seats 2|. To guard against accidental displacement when the table is set up for use I have found it expedient and practicable to associate with each keeper seat a latch or catch. This comprises a cylinder 26 set into a socket having a flange 21 at the open end, which flange abuts the outer end of the socket and serves as a sort of a wear plate for the coacting portion 22 of the coordinated unit 23. Located in the cylinder is a coil spring 28 which forces a plunger 29 out, said plunger being provided with a ball-head 30 performing the double function of a retention element and cam. Incidentally, the open end of the cylinder 26 at the point where the flange 21 joins is struck in to provided an annular shoulder to limit the outward sliding movement of the plunger 29 as shown in Figure 5. By placing the cylinder as shown in Figure 3, the cam head 3G partially bridges the entrance to the keeper seat 2| and is thereby properly located to provide the requisite snap action. It is evident, however, that any other suitable type of a catch may well be employed. The one shown is desirable in that it recedes to allow the trip or bight portion 22 of the unit 23 to conveniently snap into the keeper seat 2!. Also, the cam coaction between these features permits this trip 22 to jump out from the seat 2| by putting a slight manual pressure against it through the medium of the legs. Or stated otherwise by turning the table frame up on one edge and then catching hold of the two leg frames they can be moved readily toward each other and this slight inward movement automatically releases the stay devices 23 so that they can slide to proper collapsed or folded position.

As thus far described it will be seen that the principal structural novelty resides in the specially designed corner blocks I4 serving as supports for the journal equipped ends of the rocker shaft portions I 6 of the complemental leg frames. This is one feature of construction. secondarily, the use of the opposed leg frames mounted in this way together with the slotted bar or rail I8 and the swingably mounted wire stay devices 23 is an additional improvement. More specifically however, the idea of the spaced parallel superposed slots [9 and 2|] with the keeper seats 25 at the inner overlapped ends and the associated spring catches and stay devices 23 is of utmost importance.

Referring again, and briefly, to the aforesaid corner holes l2, these function as pockets for the reception of water glasses, ashtrays and similar accessories especially constructed to fit into said holes. Though it has no particular connection with this invention it might be stated that these various service accessories (not shown) are to be made of disposable material such as paper or the like for economy and convenience and by constructing the table to accommodate such accessories this adds further to its special adaptation for home use.

With the exception of the spring pressed catches and the self adapting wire yokes or stay devices 23 it is to be observed that a table of this construction may be substantially made of wood or some equivalent light weight sturdy stock. This permits the manufacture and sale of a more or less rigid Warp-proof structure always insuring efiiciency of use and obviating the presence on the corners of metal cleats and the like such as are so frequently objectionable in tearing ones clothing.

Minor changes in shape, size and rearrangement of details coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, if desired.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A portable foldable leg structure card table of the class described comprising a table top having a marginal depending rim, duplicate blocks attached to the underside of the table top and associated with the corner portions thereof and connected with the adjacent surfaces of said rim, said blocks being of a thickness corresponding to the depth of the rim to provide the desired flush formation between the lower edges of the rim and bottom surfaces of said blocks, a pair of duplicate U-shaped leg frames, said blocks being provided with socket forming bearings, the adjacent ends of the bight portions of said U-shaped leg frames being provided with trunnions, said trunnions being journaled for oscillation in said bearing sockets, the leg members of said frames being swingable into overlapping relationship in a manner to permit the frame, when folded, to be confined with the depth of the surrounding marginal rim, the combined thickness of the overlapped legs being substantially equal to the thickness of said blocks, and slidable stay units pivotally attached to the respective legs of said leg frames and cooperable with said table top.

2. In a structural assemblage of the class described, a table top provided on its under side with a longitudinal rail, the ends of said rail terminating in spaced relation from adjacent members on the marginal portions of said table top, said rail having a central longitudinally elongated notch formed in that face abutting the under side of said top and said notch constituting a guideway, said rail being further provided with a longitudinally elongated slot forming a second guideway, one end portion of the slot underlying the major portion of said notch, one end of said notch being formed with a counter-notch, and one end of said slot being provided with a corresponding counter-notch and said counter-notches constituting keeper seats, a spring-pressed, cam-equipped latch associated with each keeper seat and cooperable with the entrance portions of the keeper seats, U-shaped leg frames hingedly attached to the top and provided with substantially V-shaped stay units, the inner ends of said stay units being confined in the aforementioned guideways for cooperation with the keeper seats and latches.

WILLIAM F. PETERS. 

